FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS 

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5051

Restaurants Work to Prevent Wasted Food with Tacoma’s Food Saver Challenge

Local Tacoma restaurants participating in the “For the Love of Food: Tacoma’s Food Saver Challenge,” June 1-21, will embrace sustainable food saving strategies to reduce food waste.

Tacoma sends about 28,000 tons of food to the landfill every year, making it the number one item thrown away both residentialy and commercially. The food saver challenge is intended to highlight actionable strategies all Tacoma residents can do to reduce food waste. Participating restaurants will take action to prevent wasted food, including measuring and tracking waste, donating to local food banks or participating in the City’s FoodCycling program. During the final week of the Challenge, restaurants are encouraged to create a special menu item for customers that creatively celebrates the concept of preventing wasted food.

To participate in the challenge or to find out which restaurants are participating, visit tacomafoodsaver.org or call (253) 591-5172.

During the challenge, community members are invited to attend two free film screenings of the documentary "Wasted." Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion with restaurant, waste management, and food recovery experts. The screenings will be held at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave) on Wednesday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Eastside Community Center (1721 E 56th St) on Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. 

Tacoma’s 2016 Environmental Action Plan has set waste reduction goals for the City to achieve by 2020. For more information, visit tacomafoodsaver.org or call (253) 594-7869.

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